What your describing does not make sense to me, if you could possibly post pictures or a better description I or someone else may be able to help you.

A normally functioning Andersen french door has 16/32 of an inch of latch protruding from the active door. This is amount of latch is crucial for engaging (locking on to) the passive door. My door has 11/32 of latch protruding from the active door and when the active door is pushed closed it is inadequate to grab on to the the lock plate of the passive door. The question is how to adjust the latch to fully extend, and grab on to, the latch plate.

Forget it, just talked to Andersen. They are sending me a new latch/lock set under warranty. Nice warranty on those doors, 10 years no questions asked. Sweet.

We've had the same problem (same doors, about 5 years old) with the same resolution: Anderson providing new parts. We even paid for an Anderson installer to put them in so everything would be done correctly. The door worked like a dream for three or four months. Now it's back to its old tricks, of not latching when the active door is pushed shut. We have to lift the handle to engage the mechanism.

Apparently Anderson knows there is an ongoing problem with these French doors, but can't seem to provide a good, permanent fix. Hopefully your mileage will vary!

Andersen has stood by their product like that for years, even when there was no warranty.

I have the same problem with my Andersen door. The latch won't engage unless the handle is raised and even then, sometimes it can be pushed open. In addition when I lock it it's very difficult to unlock. My dog wanted to go out the other night at 2am and I could not get the door unlocked so I had to lift him out the side window:)

I have searched high and low. I disassembled the door latch mechanism and the latch spring has failed (broken from corrosion). $200.00 to replace a $0.79 latch spring. NOT HAPPY!!

I also have the same problem as Christopher. I disassembled the lock mechanism of my 28 year old Andersen French Door and found that the small spring that forces the latch to protrude has broken. Called Andersen and their solution is to replace the entire locking mechanism for over $200. Other than that tiny spring being broken, the door works fine and I can't find a replacement spring anywhere. ALSO NOT HAPPY.

Any decent hardware store will have a good selection of springs in various sizes.

"Any decent hardware store will have a good selection of springs in various sizes."

Or a locksmith as Andersen locks are not that unique......................

I had the same problem. A broken torsion spring. I called Andersen and they said they don’t sell the springs. Even though I said I already took the lock apart by drilling the rivets out and retrieved the broken spring. Their only option was to pay $200 for a new actuator since I was 2 years out of warranty. I called every hardware store and locksmith in the SF area. No luck. NOBODY carries torsion springs any longer. Even online stores like Grainger didn’t carry a suitable replacement. I looked for hours online. One person on eBay had it for $25, ouch. Probably a former Andersen employee. With no choice I bought it. Installed it, spot welded the mortised case back together and now it works again. I suggest Andersen redesign the lock to allow repairs to the springs, since the springs can easily break as I discovered searching in forums regarding this issue.

My next window or door purchase will NOT be Andersen.

Bought replacement torsion spring on eBay, now where exactly does it go. Any help greatly appreciated

I had the same problem with my Anderson hinged patio door. The door was installed in our house in 2005. In 2012 the lock mechanism broke. It was under a 10 year warranty so Anderson sent me a new part. 7 years later I have the same problem again. Anderson will not warranty the replacement part. The replacement part is $181!! I have over 60 Anderson windows and doors in my house. I have been very pleased with their warranties and quality. My house has gone through a hurricane and a tornado and my windows and doors held up remarkably well. I'm shocked they are digging their heals in and not warrantying the replacement part.

I'm not familiar with those doors, so this is just off the top of my head. Would it be possible to drill the door for a standard lockset from the hardware store? It might not look as nice as the factory latch, but given the price differential, it might be worth it if it's possible.

That's a good idea, but these doors have a unique latching system. They close like regular doors, but to get a tight seal and lock the door

, you pull up on the handle and a "spike" comes out from the bottom edge and catches in the jam.

No where have I read how to stop an Anderson lift door handle from coming loose on its shaft repeatedly. What I found, just recently after fighting it for months is that the shaft goes through a rubber gasket which is under the door plate. This gasket breaks down and the rubber debris allows the handle set screw to slide on the shaft. Remove handle and dry clean the grove (which is tapered unfortunately) clean the shaft really well and the set screw will hold much longer.

You have shell out the money and buy the whole new mechanism. Opening the latch case is like Fort Knox. Planned obsolesce.

HU-785160164 would post the part number you found?

There is a round quarter sized 3 coil spring that keeps tension on the door strike that engages it to full potential. and also keeps handle tight. " it is broken". Very simple repair if you can find one. I've searched, and I've spoken with Andersen and they do not sell that spring alone. I tack welded mine, it works now, but not as good as before.

i can't believe this is such a big problem still and no way to fix it... just buy new they say. I'm wondering if there are any 3rd party handles out there compatible with this system.

3 doors, 3 broken lock mechanisms. Andersen replaced the first under warranty. When the same mechanism broke again 3 years later, they said they don't have a warranty on warranty replacements. WTF? At the cost of their products, they should at the very least replace a part that is only 3 years old instead of telling me to pay them another $200. DONE WITH ANDERSEN, NO MORE.

Same doors. Same problems with not latching. Disappointed with Anderson.

*sigh* i have this problem too.

Same problem here... Andersen door latch does not spring pop out. It seemed like a simple spring issue. Unfortunately, the lock part is not serviceable. The could've easily designed it to be opened, repairable and make parts accessible, but instead they chose the greedy way to make things. Such a waste of resources. I'd have to say they are one of the worst in making things renewable.

Looking at replacing my THIRD full latch mechanism on an Andersen french door.

These things are solidly riveted together. Just drilled out rivets on an old one to see whats what. I've fixed the springs in many old (and new) mortice locks as the boxes are screwed together, not riveted. Andersen sucks that way. They don't want you to be able to fix these but buy a new one at $300 plus. And the weak link? A flimsy broken spring! The internal engineering is archaic! These should be serviceable, no question!!!

I have same door had same problem with the latch droping allowing the door to blow open had new lock system put on twice i ended up replacing that heavy handle with an old style knob that was a lot lighter and it stays locked now been ok for three years the hinge side can be adjusted up or down or in and out proper adjustment on the hinge is absolutly nessasary.the humidity will effect the operation and must be adjusted seasonally.

What is the old style knob? i am tired of replacing the handle set. i’m a lady with limited handyman knowledge but looking for a solution.

What is the old style door knob?

" What is the old style door knob? "

You cannot use a knob type setup on these doors as a lever is required due to the multi-point locking mechanism.